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(No Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. BURLEIGH, CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

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J. A. BURLEIGH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 16; 1895. 1 1v. I I |m|||-' W 6 33/ f lm; 3

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ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. A. BURLEIGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 537,802. Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

A TTOHWEY.

(N0 Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet '5.

J. A. BURLEIGH. GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 537,802. Patented Apr. 16', 1895.

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J. A. BURLEIGH.

GIRGULAR KNITTING MAGHINE. No. 537,802. Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

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(No Model.) 13 Sheets-Sheet 7.

J. A. B'URLEIGH. GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 587,802. Patented Apr. '16, 18915.

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(NO'MOdGL) 13 Sheets-Sheet 8.

I J. A. BURLEIGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

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13 Sheets-Sheet 10.

(No Model.)

J. A. BURLEIGH. GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

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J. A. BURLEIGH. "CIRGULARKNITTING MACHINE.

No. 537,802. Patented Apr.'16, 18

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' (No Model.) 13 sheets- -sheet 12.

J. A; BURLEIGH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

N0.5537,802. Patented Apr 16, 1895 =-||EIIIIinlllfllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllmllmfllllliII v i l l" l H 57,

(No Model.) 13 Sheets- Sheet 13.

J. A. BURLEIGH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 537,802; Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

W/TNESSESI A TTORNEY.

NHE STATES FFICEQ' JOSEPH A. BURLEIGl-I, OF LAOONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROVIDENCE KNITTING -MAOHINE COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,802, dated April 16,- 1895.

Application filed December 22, 1894. Serial No. 532,694. (No model-) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. BURLEIGH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Laconia, in the county of Belknap, 5 in the State of New Hampshire, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gircular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is aspecificaticn.

This invention relates to a circular knitting machine for the continuous knitting of scamless stockings.

The objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this character entirely automatic, which is comparativelysimple in its I construction and operation, the mechanism of which is not liable to get of time, and in which the change from continuous rotary to a reciprocatory motion is effected without shock to the machine.

The invention consists generically and specifically in certain combinations of automatic auxiliary mechanisms for effecting the neces Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse section thereof, looking toward the right. Fig. 5 represents a plan of the bed-plate for supporting the knitting head.

cal transverse section thereof. Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of the clamping mechanism for the needle cylinder. Fig. 8 represents a plan view of the knitting head. Fig. 4.0 9 represents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 10 represents a plan View of the cam cylinder. Fig. 11 represents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 12 represents a side elevation of a portion of the cam cylinder, the narrowing earns 5 being in operative position. Fig. 13 represents a vertical transverse section of the needle cylinder and the needles therein having elongated butts. Fig. 14 represents a Vertical transverse section of the cam cylinder, showing the ordinary knitting cams, the nar- Fig.6 represents a vertirowing cams, and the widening cams, the widening cams being in operative position. Fig. 15 represents a diametrical section of the cam cylinder, showing the ordinary knitting cams, the narrowing cams in operative position, and the widening cams in inoperative position. Fig. 16 represents a plan of the needle cylinder-showing a semi-circular series of needles having elongated butts and a semicircular series having shorter butts. Fig. 17 represents a segment of the interior of the cam cylinder showing the switch finger for elevating one half of the needles into inoperative position and depressing them into operative position. Fig. 18 represents a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a segment of said cam cylinder. Fig. 19 represents a transverse sec tion of a portion of said cam ring showing the lever for throwing into and out of position the narrowing and widening cams. Fig. 20 rep- 7o resents a horizontal section of a portion of said cam ring showing the narrowing cams and a plan of the cam actuating lever and spring actuated latch therefor. Fig.2l represents a perspective View of one of the widening cams. r

Fig. 22 represents a perspective view of one of the narrowing cams. Fig. 23 represents a perspective viewv of the rock shaft for actuating the belt shifting lever. Fig. 24 represents a perspective view of theseveral cams of the cam shaft for actuatinga number of the auxiliary automatic mechanisms, also the ratchet wheel and sprocket wheel connected by a sleeve loose on said shaft and a fragment of the pattern chain. Fig. 25 represents a longitudinal section of the clutch'and clutch shaft for changing the motion of the knitting head to impart a reciprocatory or continuous motion thereto. Fig. 26 represents a transverse section of the cam shaft at the left of the fixed sleeve carrying the starting arms for said shaft. Fig. 27 represents a side elevation of the left face of the cam disk at theleft of the standard 20. Fig. 28 represents a side elevation of the yarn feeding mechanism. Fig. 29 9 represents a perspective view of the top of'the standard constituting a part of the yarn feeding mechanism. Fig. 30 represents a plan view of the lever for cutting off the reinforcing yarn. Fig. 31 represents an enlarged 10a front elevation of the guide block on the main and reinforcing yarn and the clamp therein for the reinforcing yarn. Fig. 32 represents a plan view of the yarn tube for the main and reinforcing yarns. Fig. 33 represents a horizontal section thereof. Fig. 34 represents a horizontal section of the guide block. Fig. 35 represents a plan view of the under side of the cam ring attached to the cam cylinder showing the cams for operating the sinker. Fig. 36 represents a transverse section of said ring and an elevation of a sinker disposed therein. Fig. 37 represents an elevation of one of the sinkers. Fig. 38 represents a plan of a section of a needle cylinder and sinker bed. Fig. 39 represents a radial section thereof. Fig. 40 represents the several notched plates on the radial arms attached to the fixed sleeve on the cam shaft. Fig. 41 represents a side elevation of the left notched check of the bracket supporting a part of the mechanism for actuating the fashioning cams.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

This circular knitting machine contains the principal elements usually found in circular knitting machines for the knitting of stockings, to wit: a suitable frame,a knitting head comprising a needle cylinder having needles disposed in vertical grooves in a circular series and sinkers disposed in radial grooves also in circular series, and a rotary cam cylinder and cam ring encircling the needle cylinder and containing cams acting on the needles and sinkers to cause them to perform the knitting operations; mechanism for manipulating the needles to narrow and widen the fabric during the knitting of the heel and toe and mechanism for imparting continuous rotary motion to the cam cylinder for the knitting of the leg and foot, and reciprocatory movements for forming the heel and toe.

The terms right and left as used in the specification, are to be understood as referring to the relative positions of the parts with respect to a person standing in front 'of and facing the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 1 in front elevation.

The framc.'lhe working parts of this machine are mounted in any suitable frame. The frame shown comprises a base 1 supported on front legs 2 and 3, and corresponding rear legs, one of which, leg 4, appears in the drawings. This base is provided with a central opening 6, preferably circular in form, for the passage of the work which is knit by the machine. A dependent hanger 7 is supported atthe left end of the base 1, and a corresponding dependent hanger 8 at the right thereof. These hangers are preferably supported in sockets in the base and are preferably adjustable therein, their shanks being adapted to be turned or swiveled in their sockets, so that the hangers may be brought into accurate alignment. The hanger 7 is clamped in its socket by a set screw 7, and the hanger 8 is similarly clamped by a set screw 8. Two

standards 10 and in the form of vertical plates are mounted on the base 1 near opposite ends thereof. These standards are secured in any suitable manner to said base. The standard 10 is shown as provided at its lower end with outwardly projecting feet, as 11, through which the standard is fastened by means of bolts, as 12, to the base 1. The upper end of the standard 10 is arc-shaped, and provided with laterally projecting lugs, as 13. The standard 20 is also provided with feet 21 and 22, and is secured to the base 1 by bolts passing through said feet. The upper end of this standard. is also arc-shaped, and provided withinwardlugs, as 23. These standards are respectively provided with shaft bearings 15 and 25 at the front side of the machine, which bearings are in alignment, and an inclined bracket 28 attached to the standard 20 projects upward therefrom at an inclined angle, and is provided with a shaft bearing 29 at its upper end which is in alignment with the said shaft bearings 15 and 25. The standards 10 and 20 are also provided respectively on the rear side of the machine with shaft bearings 16 and 26. provided on its front side with a socket 27 at a point above its shaft bearing 25. Onehalf of each of these shaft bearings is preferably cast with the standard to which it belongs.

An annular bed-plate 30 is mounted on top of the standards 10 and 20 and serves to support that part of the machine which does the knitting and which is called the head or the knitting head. This annular bed-plate is secured to the standards by screws 31, 32, 33 and 34, which pass through said plate into the lugs, as 13 and 23, at the upper end of said standards. This annular bed-plate is provided on its upper side with two concentric ribs 35 and 36, forming an annular groove 37 betweenthem, the bed-plate being provided with a slot 38 at the bottom of said way at the right end of the machine. The bed-plate is provided at its central opening 39 with a fixed support for the needle cylinder which may consist of an inward flange 40 having notches, as 41, 42, 43 and 44.

A yarn stand is attached to the bottom of the bed-plate 30, and extends rearwardly therefrom. This stand is provided with two or more spindles 51 and 52 for holding the bobbins which contain the main and reinforcing yarns. An upright standard 53 is supported on this yarn stand and carries certain parts of the yarn feeding and guiding mechanisms. to the top of this standard and extend rearwardly therefrom, said arms being provided at their outer ends with yarn guides 56 and 57 respectively which are disposed vertically over the bobbin spindles. A horizontal bracket 60 adjustable on said standard 53 extends forward therefrom to a point over the center of the bed-plate, being provided with a yarn guide 61 at its forward end.

The standard 20 is also Two arms 54 and 55 are secured The knitting heart-A knitting head is mounted on the bed-plate 30. This head colnprises a needle cylinder 200, a rotary cam cylinder 240, encircling the needle cylinder, and a rotary cam ring 330 encircling the top of the needle cylinder. The needle cylinder 200 has on its outer periphery the usual series 221 of vertical grooves in which a circular series of knitting latch needles are disposed in the usual manner and in which said needles are adapted to reciprocate vertically. This needle cylinder normally rests at its bottom on the notched flange 40 on said bed-plate, its lower end being encircled by the inner rib 36 on the upper surface of said bed-plate. This cylinder is provided on its bottom with short studs as 222, 223, and 224 which project through the notches 41, 42, 43 and 44 in said notched flange. These studs serve to lock the head against rotation and also enable it to be elevated more or less'to elongate and loosen the stitches as hereinafter described. The needle cylinder is also provided about mid way of its height with a circumferential groove 225 and at its top with a circular series of radial slots 234. A circular sinker bed226 provided with radial slots 227 which register with the slots 234 surrounds the needle cylinder near its top, being somewhat larger in diameter than the needle cylinder and having a dependent attaching flange adapted to fit the needle cylinder. A semi-circular series of nee dles 230 is provided with elongated butts 231 and the other semi-circular series of needles 232 is provided with shorter butts 233. A spiral spring band 238 resting in the circumferential groove 225 serves to clamp the circular series of needles in the vertical grooves of saidcylinder and permits them to move up and down therein. A circular series of radially sliding sinkers 235 move in said radial slots 227 and 234 and play at their inner ends between the needles co-operating therewith in the knitting operation.

The rotary cam cylinder 240 is provided with an outward horizontal flange 241 at its bottom which lits within the outer annular rib 35 of the bed-plate 30. This flange has on its under side a dependent toothed flange or beveled gear 242.. This rotary cam cylinder turns upon the inner annular rib 36 of said bed-plate, and its toothed flange or gear 242 meshes with a beveled gear hereinafter described, by which rotary and reciprocatory motions are imparted to the cam cylinder,said beveled gear traveling in the annular space 37 between said inner and outer annular ribs ot' the bed-plate. Buttons 35 on the outer rib 35 are swung over said flange to hold the cam cylinder in position. The cam cylinder is provided on its outer periphery with an upwardly inclined bracket 243 which extends to a plane above the top of the cam cylinder. This bracket is provided at its upper end with a cylindrical boss 244.

The inner face of the rotary cam cylinder 240 is provided near its bottom with a rib 245 -251 onto the other end of the rib 245.

which extends about three-fourths of the distance around the cylinder and serves as a shoulder or rest for the butts of the needles when the latter are in lowered position, the ends of said rib being beveled. The cams for the ordinary knitting operation comprise an inverted approximately V-shaped fixed earn 246 disposed between the beveled ends of said rib, and two fixed side cams 247 and 248 disposed just above the beveled ends of said rib and the inclined ends of said \l-shaped cam. These fixed side cams are provided with recesses 247 and 248. Two latching cams 250 and 251 are disposed between the lower ends of the fixed side cams 247 and 248, and the beveled ends of said rib. Disposed over the fixed cams 247 and 248 are two small fixed cams 252 and 253. An automatic switch cam 254 depends from a stud on the inner face of the cam cylinder and is adapted to oscillate between the adjacent ends of the two side cams.

The camsjust described constitute theknitting cams for raising and lowering the needles in forming the loops or stitches. The course of the butts of the needles in the ordinary forward rotary motion of the cam cylinder is along the path w0c, to wit: off one end of the inner rib or shoulder 245 over the small latch cam 250, over the fixed side cam 247, between it and the smaller fixed ca'm 252, against the central loosely swinging cam 254, which is swung by the action of the needles over against the inner end of the other fixed side cam 248, and switches the butts down between the fixed side cam 248 and the V-shaped cam 246, thence up under the latching cam l/Vhen the cylinder is reversed during the reciprocating motion the butts of the needles travel in a reverse direction through the path indicated by the dotted line yy to wit: off the rib 245, over the latch cam 251, over the side cam 248, between it and the small fixed cam 253, thence against the automatic switch cam 254, thence downward through the action of said switch cam between the fixed side can] 247 and the inverted V-shaped cam, thence upward on the other beveled end of the rib 245, and under the latch cam 250 onto the top of said rib. A number of needles are thus raised and lowered in an ordinary manner, and during such raising and lowering they cooperate with a corresponding number of radial sliding sinkers and form the loops which constitute the knitted fabric.

A switch finger 260 is adapted to swing on a pivot 261 on the inner face of the cam cylinder at a point above the rib 245 and oppo site the free end of said switch finger said rib has a notch 262. This switch finger when its free end is swung down into said notch serves to switch and elevate the needles having elongated butts into inoperative position, and when the free end of said switch finger is elevated it engages said needles by their elongated butts and lowers them into working po- ICC IIO

sition. This switch finger is provided with a stud 263 which extends through a slot 264 in the cam cylinder, being adapted to play therein. A mechanism for automatically actuating this switch finger in the proper directions at the required intervals of time will be described hereinafter.

Two narrowing cams 270 and 271 are attached to shanks which are pivoted on studs '272 and 273 on the outer face of the cam cylinder, and play in slots in said cylinder and when in position for elevating the separate needles to effect the narrowing operation, they lie in the recesses 247 and 248 in the fixed cams 247 and 248. These shanks are provided with weighted arms 274 and 275 which tend to hold the cams in said recesses and permit them to swing under the action of the needles. These cams are provided with lips 276 and 277 at their lower edges and when lying in their recesses, in position for action, are in the path of the needle butts, and as a butt of a needle strikes one of these cams, it swings said cam upward and its lip engages said butt and elevates said needle out of its course and swings it up into inoperative position. As the cam swings out it leaves the ordinary path free for the passage'of the succeeding needles. Means hereinafter described are provided for holding them in inoperative position when they are not required for use.

The widening cams for bringing into action successively the needles which were thrown out in narrowing will now be described. Two small brackets 280 and 281 are attached to the outer face of the rotary cam cylinder at the upper edge thereof and two dependent oscillatory arms 282 and 283 are pivoted on screws 284i and 285 which pass through said brackets. The lower ends of these arms carry inwardly projecting studs 286 and 287 which play in slots 288 and 289 in the cam cylinder. The widening cams 290 and 291 are pivoted to the inner ends of these studs. These cams are approximately oval in shape, and are respectively provided with recesses 292 and 293, and near their upper ends with hooks 29st and 295 at the top of said recesses. Torsional springs 296 and 297 on the pivots 284 and 285 tend to throw the dependent arms 282 and 283 in upward position, in which position the widening cams are elevated and'are in position to engage and pull down successive needles into operative position. These widening cams are held in normal position on their pivots by torsional springs as 296' which permit them to yield when their backs strike the needles which have been elevated into inoperative position. The upper ends of these arms are provided respectively with lugs 298 and 299 which are engaged by an actuating device for swinging the widening cams into inoperative position when not required for use. The rotary cam cylinder is provided with guards 282 and 283' which form ways in which the lower ends of the oscillatory dependent cam carrying arms 282 and 283 play. A T-shapcd slide 300 l having a vertical slot 301 in its shank or body is adapted to move vertically on fixed studs 302 on the outer face of the cam cylinder mid- 283. The outer ends of the top of this T- shaped slide engage the lugs 298 and 299 on said arms and when said slide is raised said cam carrying arms are swung downward and tion. A fixed bracket 303 is attached to the cam cylinder and extends radially outward and then verticallyupward in front of the body or shank of the T'shaped slide. This bracket 303 is provided with a vertical slot 30% eX- tending from its bottom to a point about midway of its height and on its outer face on the opposite sides of said slot with vertical cheeks 305 and 306, the left cheek 305 having a notch 307 in its outer edge. A contractile spiral spring 308 connected at its upper end to said T-shaped slide and at its lower end to said angular bracket 303 tends to draw down said slide and hold it in its low position. A lever 309 pivoted in said bracket is adapted to swing in the slot therein and between the cheeks 305 and 306. The inner end of this lever has a notch engaging a transverse pin connected to outwardly projecting lugs 310 and 311 at the lower end of said T-shaped slide. Then the outer end of said lever is depressed said slide is raised and the widening cams are thereby swung into inoperative position. The shanks of the narrowing cams 270 and 271 are each provided with a tooth as 279 Which extends respectively under the lugs 310 and 311 on the T-shaped slide and when said slide is in depressed position said outwardly projecting lugs engage said teeth, and the narrowing cams are thereby held in inoperative position. A spring actuated latch 312 having a nose 312 is pivoted on a ing 313 attached to one of the cheeks, 305, and when the outer end of the lever 309 is depressed, said latch shuts over said lever into the notch 307 on the cheek 305 and locks said lever in depressed position until the latch is actuated to release it. Thus it will be seen that a single movement of the T-shaped slide in the upward direction permits the narrowing cams to fall into operative position and swings the widening cams into inoperative position; whereas a movement of said slide in the downward direction swings the widening cams into operative position and simultaneously locks the narrowing cams in inoperative position.

The mechanism for actuating the lever which controls the cam operating slide and for actuating the latch for releasing said lever automatically will be described herein after.

In widening the fabric being knit, by means of the widening cams 290 and 291, one of said cams engages the butt of the first needle of the widening series, and the resistance of the needle operates to swing backward and downward said cam, then the needle passes under the breast of said cam into the working their cams are brought intoinoperative posiway between the cam carrying arms 282 and I has channel or pathx-m or yy according to the direction of movement of the cam cylinder.

The bracket 303 has an upward extension 315 and a pivoted arm 3161s hingedto the upper end on said extension and is held by its spring 317 in either vertical or horizontal position. A guard ring 320 having a slotted arm 321 is adjustable on said hinged arm 316. This guard ring surrounds the top of the needles when they are in elevated position and protects them. This ring has an'eye through which the yarn is fed to the needles.

A flanged cam ring 330 is adapted to rotate on the flange 226 on the needle cylinder and operates to throw in and out a certain number of the radial sliding sinkers. This cam ring is held on the flange 226 by means of flanged lugs 331, 332, 333, and 331, attached to the flange of the cam ring and projecting inward under the flange on the bed 226. Two radial lugs 331 and 335 are disposed apart from each other in the usual manner on the cam ring and having adjustable screws 336 and 337. When the cam ring is disposed on the needle cylinder the boss 211 on the cam cylinder is between the adjusting screws 336 and 337, and during the rotation of the cam cylinder said boss engages one of said screws and causes the cam ring to rotate with it, and during the reciprocation of the cam cylinder, said boss engages said screws alternately and causes the cam ring to reciprocate.

The cam ring 330 is provided on its under side with a cam groove330 formed between the outer flange 332 of said ring and an inner rib331. A segment of the outerflange 322' is omitted, forming an opening diametrically opposite from the radial lugs 331 and 335 which enables the sinkers 235 to slide out and in. The ends of the flange at opposite sides of the opening are beveled, forming cams 331 and 335' to push the sinkers inward. On the inner edge of the cam ringopposite this opening is a cam-plate having beveled ends, forming cams 333 and 336' which serve to throw the sinkers outward. The ver- 'cates for the knitting of the heel and toe, the

sinkers are thrown outward and inward on the forward stroke by the same cams and in the backward stroke are moved outward by the cam 336 and inward by the cam 335. A number of sinkers, about fourteen, more or less, adjacent to the active needles are moved inward and outward cooperating with said needles.

The driving mechanism-The driving shaft is supported in the dependent hangers 7 and 8, and itis provided on its left end with three pulleys 101, 102, and 103, the intermediate pulley 102 beingaloose pulley, and the others being fixed on the shaft.

Two belts 101 and 105 play at their lower turns on. these pulleys, and at their upper turns on a stepped cone or speed pulley 106, which is fast on a counter shaft 107 located at any convenient point, from which power is taken to drive the machine. The other end of the driving shaft 100 is provided with a broad faced pulleylOS. Motion is communicated from the driving shaft to the rotary cam cylinder of the knitting head in any suitable manner. A shaft 110 is journaled in the shaft bearings 1.5 and 25, and projects, to the right some distance beyond the standard 20, being supported at its outer end by the bracket 28 attached to said standard. This shaft is provided with a fast pulley 111, and aloose pulley 112, and a belt 113, passes over the broad pulley 108 on the driving shaft, and over the pulley 1.11 or 112. An arm 114 extends from the standard 20, and a belt shifter lever 115 is pivoted to the outer end of said arm beneath the fast and loose pulleys referred to. This belt shifter lever serves to shift the belt from one of these pulleys to the other, enabling the operator to control the machine with out shifting the main power belts 101 and 105. A spring 116 connected to the rear end of the belt shifter lever 115 and to the standard 20, tends to throw toward the right the 1 front end of said belt shifter lever and to keep is preferably pivoted at its outer end to the inner end of this belt shifter lever and slides near its inner end in a hole in the standard 20. This rod is provided with a notch 118 near its inner end. An angular lever 119 is pivoted on a stud 120 on the inner face of the standard 20, and its lower arm projects to the front of the machine. A contractile spring 121 connected at its upper end to a stud on said standard and at its lower end to said lever tends to hold said lever in contact with the inner end of the rod 117 which is connected with the belt shifter lever 115. When the belt shifter is in position to hold the belt on the fast pulley 111 the rod 117 is drawn out, and the notch 118 thereon com es opposite the bell crank lever 119, said lever engaging said notch and acting as a latch to hold said belt shifter leverin this position. \Vhen itis desired to stop the machine, the bell crank latch lever 119 is pushed down by the attendant and passing out of the notch 118 of the rod 117, releases said rod and the spring 116 operates the belt shifter lever 115 whereby the belt 113 is shifted onto the loose pulley 112. A pinion 125 fast on the shaft 100 cugages a gear wheel jonrnaled on a stud 131 supported in a socket 27 of the standard 1 face with a wrist pin 132. This gear wheel This gear wheel is provided on its enter a ard 20. A clutch sleeve 143 is disposed on this clutch shaft 140,'and adapted to slide longitudinally thereon, but locked to turn therewith by a feather on the shaft which engages a longitudinal groove in the sleeve 143. This sleeve has clutch faces at its opposite ends and a peripheral groove 144 whereby it is engaged by its actuating device. uating device consists of a forked lever 145 journaled to swing horizontally on a dependent bracket 146 formed on or attached to the rear side of the bracket 142. The forked end of this lever is provided with studs 147 and 148 which engage the peripheral groove of the clutch sleeve 143, and the rear end of said lever is provided with a stud 149 which isengaged at proper intervals by suitable cams hereinafter describedorother actuatingmechanism. Two pinions 150 and 151 are disposed on the clutch shaft 140 apart from each other, the clutch sleeve 143 being arranged between them. These pinions are provided with clutch faces on their ends adjacent to the clutch sleeve and when said sleeve is moved to the left and engages the pinion 150, said pinion is thereby locked to the clutch shaft 140 and the right pinion 151 is loose on said shaft, but when the sleeve 143 is moved toward the right, the left pinion is released and made a loose pinion and the right pinion is engaged and made fast With the clutch shaft. The inner end of the clutch shaft is provided with a beveled gear152 the upperedge of which projectsthrough a slot 38in the bed-plate 30 and engages the toothed flange of the rotary cam cylinder of the knitting head. The left pinion 150 is always in gear with the gear wheel 130, and when said pinion-is fast with the clutch shaft continuous rotary motion is imparted to said cam cylinder. A toothed segment 153 is journaled on a stud 154 projecting outward from the standard 20 and this segment is always in mesh with the right pinion 151 on the clutch shaft 140. A connecting rod 155 extends from a stud 156 on the rear end of the toothed segment 153 to a wrist pin 131 on the gear wheel 130 whereby the segment is constantly oscillated when the machine is in operation. When the right pinion 151 is made fast with the clutch shaft by the sliding clutch sleeve 143 the segment is the means of transmitting motion to the clutch shaft and the usual reciprocating movement of the cam cylinder of the knitting head is thereby effected. A spiral spring 157 is disposed on the clutch shaft 140 between the standard 20 and the left pinion 150 and a spiral spring 158 is also disposed on said shaft between. the dependent end of the bracket 142 and the pinion 151. These springs tend to impart elastic contact when the clutch sleeve engages said pinions respectively whereby sudden jerkings and breakage is avoided.

The mechanism above described is in its general features similar to that usually employed in circular knitting machines.

This act-- anz'sms.-A cam shaft 350 carries a variety of camsfor bringing into and throwing out of action certain mechanisms at proper intervals of time. This shaft is journaled in the bearings 16 and 26 at the rear of the machine on the standards 10 and 20, and projects to the right beyond the standard 20. This shaft is provided with a driving ratchet wheel 351 fixed to the shaft just outside said standard 20. This ratchet wheel has three blank teeth or dwells 352, 353 and 354, the second dwell 353 being the tenth tooth distant from the first dwell 352, and the third dwell 354 being the fourth tooth distant from the second dwell and the eighteenth from the first dwell. A lever 355 is pivoted to the outer face of the standard 20 and carries at its rear end a pawl 356 which engages the teeth of said driving ratchet wheel. The front end of this lever is held in contact with a heart-shaped cam 357 on the shaft 110 by means of aspring 358 connected at one end to said lever, and at the other end to said standard. This lever and pawl move the ratchet wheel 351 a distance of one tooth at each rotation of the shaft110 and thus actuate intermittently the cam shaft 350 except when the pawl 356 lies in one of the blank teeth or dwells on said ratchet wheel. In that case the cam shaft is started at the proper time and moved the distance of one tooth by other mechanism hereinafter described.

A sleeve 360 is loose on the cam shaft 350 between the standards. This sleeve is provided at its right end with a ratchet wheel 361 and at its left end with a sprocket wheel 362. A lever 363 pivoted on a stud 364 on the inner face of'the standard 20 has a lateral stud 365 at its inner end projecting toward the left, and a lateral stud 366 at its outer end projecting toward the right in front of the standard 20. A pawl 367pivoted on the stud 365 at the rear end of the lever engages the ratchet wheel 361 on the sleeve 360 anda stud at the front end of said lever is engaged by the cam 133 on the gear wheel 130, this stud being preferably provided with an antifriction roller with which the cam comes in contact. A stop pin 369 is disposed in the edge of the standard 20 above the stud 366. A spring 369' connected at its lower end to a stud on the standard 20 and at its upper rear end to the pawl 367 passes over the rear end of the rear stud on the lever 363 and tends to hold the pawl in contact with the ratchet wheel and to depress the lower end of said lever to enable the pawl to engage a new tooth, and also to raise the outer end of the lever and normally hold it in contact with the stop pin 369 in the edge of said standard. At each revolution of the gear wheel 130, the cam 133 thereon depresses the front end of the pawl carrying lever, and the pawl turns the wheel 361 on the sleeve 360 the distance of one tooth.

A bracket 370 projects rearwardly from the rear side of the base 1 and carries an inclined arm 371 which is provided with an elongated slot 372 extending throughout its lower part, and with a short slot or hole 373 at its upper end. A stud 374 is disposed in the short slot 373 and carries a pawl 375 which is actuated by a spring376 and operates as a check pawl for the ratchet wheel. An arm 377 secured to the slotted arm 371 near the bracket 370 at the upper end of the elongated slot 372 extends upward therefrom and carries at its upper end a stud 378 on which a grooved pulley 379 is journaled. A spring spider plate 380 is secured to said stud 378 and presses on the left face of said grooved pulley, serving as a brake to prevent undue movement thereof. A stud 381 is adjustable in the elongated slot 372 of theinclined arm 371 and on this stud two grooved pulleys 382 and 383 are journaled side by side. An endless pattern chain 390 which controls the several mechanisms passes over the sprocket wheel 362 on the sleeve 360 disposed on the cam shaft 350, thence downward under the left grooved pulley 382, thence upward over the grooved pulley 379 on. the stud at the upper end of the arm 377, thence downward under the right grooved pulley 383,and thence upward to the sprocket wheel 362 on the sleeve on the cam shaft. The adjustable stud 381 carrying the two lower grooved pulleys may be raised or lowered in the slot 372 to suit endless pattern chains of different lengths for the knitting of stockings having longer or shorter legs. Sometimes the upper grooved pulley 379is dispensed with, and in that case a short pattern chain will pass over the sprocket wheel 362 and over one of the lower grooved pulleys only. This pattern chain carries various lugs, studs, and cams which actuate different mechanisms as hereinafter described. r

An inclined bracket 384 is secured to the horizontal bracket 370 and this inclined bracket is provided with a groove 385 on its front face through. which the sprocket pins of the pattern chain 390 pass, said grooved bracket serving as a guide for said chain and holding it withsufficient rigidity to insure its action upon the belt shifting mechanism hereinafter described.

A sleeve 400 is locked on the cam shaft at the left of the sleeve 360 and is provided with three radial arms 401, 402 and 403 adjacent to the sprocket wheel 362. These radial arms are provided at their outer ends respectively with notched plates 404, 405 and 406. These notched plates are severally engaged by certain projections in the form of studs or lugs on the pattern chain at proper intervals as hereinafterdescribed, such engagement serving to turn the cam shaftsufficiently to carry either one of the dwells of the driving ratchet wheel 351away from the driving pawl 356 and 1 enable said pawl to turn the cam shaft. The notches in the plates permit the said projections to pass the arms which they are not designed to engage. V

The cam shaft 350 is provided with a brake to prevent momentum and avoid movement of the shaft except as itis positively actuated by the actuating pawl of the driving ratchet wheel, or by the pattern chain. This lorake as shown in the drawings comprises a grooved pulley 600 disposed on theleftend of the shaftoutside the left standard 10, a spring band 601 passing over said pulley and a bracket 602 attached to the standard 10 to which the ends of said spring band are secured. One end of the spring band is hooked over a hook 603 at the front end of said bracket and the other end of said spring band is provided with a bolt 604 which passes through a hole in the rear end of said bracket and is provided under said bracket with a nut 605. A spiral and said nut and imparts ayielding pressure to the brake band 601, By means of the nut the tension of said band may be increased or diminished to suit the requirements of the machine.

The operation.'[he operation of knitting a stocking from the pointof beginning at the top of the leg to the point of finishing at the tip of the toe, will now be described, and the several auxiliary automatic mechanisms which are intermittently brought into action scribed substantially in the order in which they perform their functions.

In starting the knitting of a stocking the moving parts of the machine are in the positions indicated in the main figures of the of the leg and ends at the toe. The right driving belt 105 which passes over the larger part of the step cone pulley 106 serves as the driving belt during the knitting of the leg, and the left pinion 150 is clutched to the clutch is imparted to the cam cylinder 240 through the gear wheel 130. The pawl 356 of the driving ratchet wheel 351 is in the first dwell 352 of said wheel from the beginning of the knit ting of the leg to near the end thereof and the cam shaft 350 remains stationary during the leg knitting. The leg is knit solely from the main yarn.

The calf enlarging-The machine is provided with an auxiliary automatic mechan ism for elongating the stitches for enlarging the stocking over the calf of'the leg. This automatic mechanism, when constructed as herein illustrated, is controlled by the pattern chain 390. To eii'ect this elongation of the stitches or loops in the knitting, the needle cylinder 200 is slightly raised when the knitting begins at the top of the stocking, permitted to remain in this raised position until that portion of the leg designed'to cover the calf is finished, and then the needle cylinder is gradually lowered during the formation of the succeeding portion of the leg of the stocking. The elevation of the needle cylinder loosens the tension of the yarn and results in the elongation'of the stitches, the

during this operation will be hereinafter dedrawings and the knitting begins at the top.

shaft 140, so that a continuous rotary motion spring 606 is interposed between saidbracket 

